iPhone 5 release set for Summer 2012 - Report

The iPhone 5 will reportedly be introduced at WWDC 2012, likely setting the stage for a Summer launch

The iPhone 4S, as opposed to every other iPhone released before it, launched in October as opposed to the typical June/July release date we had come to expect. At the heart of the delay, according to uncorroborated reports, were a few quality control issues that Apple wanted to adequately fix before bringing the next-gen iPhone to market.

And the results certainly speak for themselves, really. Despite the proclamations of pundits who were quick to label the iPhone 4S a less than impressive upgrade, consumers couldn't snatch them up fast enough. During Apple's December quarter, the company sold an astounding 37 million iPhones, the majority of which were iPhone 4S devices.

Now if you follow Apple even a little bit, you might notice that the company tends to release things in consistent and, therefore, somewhat predictable cycles. To wit, new iPod models were always released in September, and more recently, the iPad is on an annual March/April release cycle.

So given the uncharacteristic October launch of the iPhone 4S, one has to wonder when we can expect to see Apple's latest and greatest iPhone, the long awaited iPhone 5.

Will Apple revert back to its Summer launch schedule or will it adjust its annual release cycle accordingly and release the iPhone 5 in October 2012?

Well, according to a Daiwa Securites report relayed by Digitimes, Apple will introduce the iPhone 5 at WWDC 2012, scheduled to take place in June. If this is indeed the case, all you iPhone upgraders better get your wallets ready in time for Summer.

While more iPhone 5 details are certain to emerge over the course of the next few months, early rumors point to an iPhone 5 with a larger screen, 4G LTE support, an A6 processor, and perhaps built-in NFC functionality.

• Smartphones
• Apple
• Apple iPhone
• Apple Rumors
• iPhone 5